Sign Language Studies

The Deaf Culture textbook is a comprehensive guide to the history, culture, and diversity of Deaf communities in the United States. Conveying a genuine respect for the diversity of the deaf and hard of hearing population, the book addresses the central issues surrounding deafness. These discussions present both theoretical and practical information about the various aspects of Deaf culture today: education, psychology, technology, cultural studies, and the arts. The ten-chapter textbook is designed for audiences who are assumed to be familiar with the pathological view of deafness but are not conversant with the sociocultural view of deafness. It is written in accessible language that is geared toward high school students who have an interest in sign language and Deaf culture.

The textbook is divided into three sections: Part 1, Deaf Culture: Yesterday and Today; Part 2, Signed Languages and Learning; and Part 3, Deaf Lives, Technology, Arts, and Career Opportunities. The first chapter of part 1 presents a historical and contemporary description of the Deaf community, its distinct social groups, and key terms and concepts that are rooted in the sociocultural view of deafness. The second chapter explains the causes of deafness and the various levels of hearing loss, as well as technological innovations of the past and present in the treatment of hearing loss. The authors address the controversy surrounding the latest hearing and medical technology, which involves invasive surgery and genetic engineering. They discuss the moral dilemma inherent in considering how far one can [End Page 162] go in treating a difference that society deems problematic. Part 1 has three chapters that cover the history and linguistics of ASL, legislation, methods of communication, educational settings for Deaf children, and the language, cognitive, and literacy skills of Deaf children. Incorporating elements that reflect the diversity of the Deaf community, chapter 3 presents the history of ASL, including its Native American, French, and New England roots; it also briefly covers the modern history of Black ASL as a dialect of ASL. The fourth chapter covers different methods of communication, including manual codes of English, simultaneous communication, and Cued Speech, as well as different institutional settings that affect Deaf people's education. The fifth chapter provides an overview of intelligence, cognition, language pathways, the literacy of Deaf students, and educational settings and communication methods as influential factors. Part 3 focuses on identity development, social and legal issues, technology, and arts related to Deaf culture. In addition, chapters 10 and 11 encourage readers both to consider career opportunities that may put them in contact with Deaf people and to think about how the issues that concern Deaf communities may be interlocked with their own.

Deaf Culture: Exploring Deaf Communities in the United States is a suitable introductory textbook that meets the demands of many educational institutions. In fact, ASL ranks as the third most frequently studied modern language in postsecondary institutions in the United States (Goldberg, Looney, and Lusin 2009). It is high in demand in high schools as well (Rosen 2008). The book can function as a primer for introductory college courses on ASL, Deaf studies, deaf education, and audiology, and it can be used as supplementary material for advanced or specialized reading courses in similar areas of study.

The primary audience for the textbook is hearing people who have an interest in sign language and Deaf studies. As a matter of fact, educational institutions that offer ASL courses primarily serve hearing people. However, this book should be adopted as reading or reference material at educational institutions that primarily serve deaf and hard of hearing students so that they can explore their own identity as they learn about Deaf culture. The visually stimulating illustrations, real-life testimonies from various deaf and hard of hearing people, and the [End Page 163] conversational style of writing help...